Fatal Shooting in Paulding County: Self-Defense Determined in Crossroads Church Road Incident
On Saturday, June 29, 2024, at approximately 3:32 AM, Paulding E-911 received a report of a shooting at 1789 Crossroads Church Road, Rockmart, GA 30153, located within unincorporated Paulding County. Deputies responding to the scene discovered three individuals had been shot, with one fatality.
According to investigators from the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the incident unfolded as follows: Brandon Eugene Donaldson, 38, was asleep in his vehicle parked in the driveway at the aforementioned address. Detectives and agents determined through witness accounts that Troy Douglas Sparks, 34, and Brandon Michael Stephens, 35, had previous disputes with Donaldson.
During the early morning hours, Sparks and Stephens allegedly broke a window of Donaldson’s vehicle and assaulted him with a blunt object while he was asleep. In response to the assault, gunfire was exchanged between Donaldson and Stephens.
As a result of the gunfire exchange, Donaldson sustained injuries, Sparks was also shot, and Stephens succumbed to fatal gunshot wounds. Based on their investigation, including interviews with witnesses and reviewing physical evidence, detectives and agents concluded that Donaldson acted in self-defense against the initial aggravated assault by Sparks and Stephens.
Following their investigation, Troy Douglas Sparks was arrested and charged with Murder, Aggravated Assault, and an outstanding warrant from Cobb County. The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office emphasized that the investigation remains active, with the possibility of additional arrests and charges pending further developments.
Authorities urge anyone with information relevant to this case to contact the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Tip Line at (770) 443-3047 or via the Paulding Sheriff mobile app.
